Ammunition-hoist.



W. H. KNOWLTON.

AMMUNITION HOlST.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.12.1912.

. Patented July 27, 1915.

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K M I fii/zedveax COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO..WASHINGTON. D. c.

W. H. KNOWLTON.

AMMUNITION HOIST.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12. 1912.

1, 148,098. Patented July 27, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANoGnAmI C0,, WASIHNGTON, u, c,

Patented July 27, 1915.

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W. H. KNOWLTON.

AMMUNITION HOIST.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12. 1912. 1,148,098.

COLUMBIA E'LANOORAPH COUWASHINDTON, D. c.

W. H. KNOWLTON.

AMMUNITION HOIST- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12. 1912.

Patented July 27, 1915.

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AMMUNITION HOIST.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12. 1912.

Patented July 27, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

" STATES PATENT QFFIQE.

WILLIAM H. KNOWLTON, or ARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON COMPANY, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

AMMUNITION-H0151.

Application filed March 12, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAX H. KNOWL- at Arlington, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ammunition-Hoists, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates more particularly to ammunition conveyers or hoists of that type used for conveying ammunition from the handling room to the turret by driving it through a conveyer tube by direct air pressure, but the invention is applicable also to transferring ammunition or the like from one point to another either on board ship or on land.

The especial object of the invention is to provide an apparatus by which shells and powder for large guns may be handled rapidly and safely in separate tubes by simple and durable means, but the invention includes also certain features applicable in conveyers or hoists used for handling only shells or powder.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, there is illustrated a pneumatic'hoist system for shells and powder embodying all the features of the invention in their preferred form, and this construction will now be described in detail and the features forming the invention specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the apparatus with the gun turret in section. Fig. 2 is a similar view looking to the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section through the sending terminal and air valve of a shell hoist. Fig. 4c is a vertical central section of the air valve of a shell hoisttaken at right angles to Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail side view of the locking device for the shell tube door. Fig. 6 is a detail section of the lower end of a shell hoist taken at right angles to Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a vertical central section of the lower end of a powder hoist. Fig.. 8 is a cross-section on the line 8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a plan View of the receiving terminals of the two shell and powder hoists. Fig. 10 is a vertical central section of the upper end of a shell hoist. Fig. 11 is av plan Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

Serial No. 683,336.

view of the top of a shell hoist. Fig. 12 is a detail section of the air valves for the TON, a citizen of the United States, residing powder hoists. Fig. 18 is a detail section of the valves for controlling the air valves of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a detail section on the line 14 of Fig. 13.

Referring to the drawings, which show an apparatus having separate powder and shell hoists for each of the two guns of a turret, A, A and B, B are the tubes through which the shells and powder are driven, these tubes having their sending terminals in the handling room and their respective receiving terminals D, D and E, E in the turret G, in convenient position for loading the guns F. The shells are driven through the shell-tubes A by pressure air from a blower G through pressure tube H connected to the air valves of the two tubes, and the powder is driven through the powder tubes B by suction of the blower G through suetion pipe I connected to the air valve controlling the two powder hoists. The turret C is mounted to rotate as usual, and preferably the blower G and its motor and the hoist tubes with their sending terminals are all mounted so as to rotate with the turret, being shown as carried by table K which is connected by suitable framework (not shown) with the turret. It will be under stood, however, that the blower'and its motor need not be carried by the turret but may be stationary and have any suitable position and connections for supplying the hoists and permitting the turret to rotate.

The powder and shell hoists for the two guns are identically the same in construction and operation and a detail description of the powder-and shell hoists for one of the guns and the interlocking devices will suffice, the same references being applied to corresponding parts of the hoists for the two guns.

Referring now to a shell hoistand first to the lower or sending portion, the tube A has at its lower end a. port 10 for the admission of air which is closed by an upwardly opening spring-pressed valve 11, and a small port connected by pipe 12 to pressure pipe H. It is provided also with a vent 13 closed during the pusher return so as to cushion the latter, this vent being controlled by a sliding valve 14. as presently to be described. The port 10 connects the tube A with passage through which the pressure air enters under the control of the air valve a in casing L, by which the pressure pipe H is connected either with the tube A for despatch of a shell or with the exhaust pipe M discharging to the atmosphere at any suitable point. Air valve a also controls vent 16 by which the escape of air from the tube A is permitted during the descent of the pusher, this air passing to the vent through pipe N connecting valve casing L with the tube a abovethe sending terminal. The valve on is operated through its stem 17 by handle 18, stops 19 for the handle being preferably used as hereafter described.

The tube A is opened for loading by door 20 mounted on rock shaft 21, and is held in closed position by latch 22 hooking over pin by dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which it is in 'position to receive a shell from shell table 25, or lowered farther so as to rest on abutment 26, for removing a shell from the tube. Thedoor is closed from either of these positions by lever 27 operated by hand, and the opening of the door to one or the other ofits two open positions is fixed by'the adjustmentof the plate 28 carrying stop 29 co-acting with lever 27 and which plate may be adjusted on shaft 21 for the desired operation of the door.

At the upper end or receiving terminal the top of the tube A is closed by springpressed doors 30 and provided with a shoulder forming a stop 31 for stopping a pusher while permitting the shell to pass onward through the doors, this stop 31 co-acting with spring catches 32 on the'pusher 0, these spring catches being held inward by the tube wall during transit and springpressed outward so as to engage stop 31 when brought opposite the notches in the .tubebelow the stop 31. The shell is delivered from the tube below a curved guide and against a buffer onto spring-pressed table 33, in convenient position for transfer to the gun breech.

The table 33 may be tipped upward by lever 64 for lowering shells from the turret to the handling room, and to prevent the table being thus tipped or the doors 30 being opened for inserting a shell at the upper end of thetube, except when the pusher O 1s m position at the top of the tube to re- -ceive the shell, a spring-pressed trip 34 pro- JQCtS into the tube so as to be engaged and rocked outward by the pusher, and this trip 34carries at its outer end a hook engaging witha pin 'on arm 35 extending down from the pivot shaft of table 33, so as to hold the table against tipping upward until the trip Trip 34 is also connected by link 36 to an arm on a rock shaft carrying latches 37 which take over the edges of the doors 30 and prevent the doors being opened by hand except when these catches are released by a pusher pressing trip 34 outward. These latches 37 are thus tripped for the delivery of a shell from the tube, as

' the ascending pusher engages trip 34 before scribed.

The air valve a is locked in different positions to operate as described hereafter, by locking pins 6, 0 entering locking notches 1, 2, 3 in valve stem 17 these locking pins 6, 0 being connected by rocking lever 61? and controlled by plunger 6 spring pressed in one direction and moved in the opposite direction by fluid pressure.

through pipe 60. Connecting with this pipe 60 are pipes 61, 62, the pipe 62 communicating with pipe 60 through a three-way cock f which may be shifted so as to close pipe 60 above the cock and connect pipes 62', 60 for the transmission of pressure from pipe 60 below the cock. Pipes 60, 61 have check valves 6 above cock f, opening downward. The pipes 61 and 62 with pipe 63 connecting with pressure pipe H, are controlled in the receiving terminal by valve 9, which is shifted to connect the pipes for the operation desired by the table 33 through rocking lever 39.

The stems 17 of air valves a of the two hoists are preferably provided with an inter -lock shown as consisting of the sliding bar 40 engaging cam notches in the valve stems 17, so that the raising of elther air valve presses the lock 40 into the cam notch of the other valve stem and holds it in position to lock the other valve stem against movement, until the valve operated is re turned to normal position. The opening and closing of door 20 1s preferably controlled by the pusher so that the door can nal, and this trip actuates the rock shaft by which it is carried to move a latch it carried by the rock shaft so as to lock the hand-operated lever against movement to release the door when the pusher passes upward and unlatch the lever when the pusher passes downward. The release lever 24 is connected by link 2' to valve 14 controlling the vent 18 previously referred to, so that the release of the door raises the valve 14 to vent the sending terminal of tube A below the pusher 0.

Referring now to the powder hoists, each sending terminal has the swinging door 43 opened for the insertion of the powder on the pusher P, the powder bags being preferably packed in cylindrical cans as shown at 00 in Fig. 2. The door 48 is held closed by catches 44 at opposite ends of a vertical rock shaft spring pressed to hold the door closed and operated to open the door by handle 8, and one of these catches is locked so that the door can not be opened during despatch by a latch is controlled by a plunger Z spring pressed in one direction to lock the catch 44 and moved in the opposite direction against the spring by fluid pressure from pipe 45 connected to pipe 63 and thus to the pressure pipe H. This pipe 45 is controlled by valve m actuated by a trip it extending into the lower end of the powder tube so that pipe 45 is closed and pressure air cut off from plunger Z, except when pusher P is in the sending terminal of the powder tube D and the trip u pressed outward to open valve m. This pipe 45 also has a branch connecting pipe 45 with pipe 46 extending up to the receiving terminal, and controlled by valve a similar to valve m, so as to connect pipes 45, 46 when the door 43 is closed, but close this connection when the door 43 is open. The lower end of the tube B is provided with a vent 47 closed by the pusher P as it reaches the lower end of the tube so as to cushion the pusher, and a spring pressed relief valve 48 in the bottom of the tube.

The powder hoists are provided at the receiving terminal with valve devices for connecting the blower suction with the pow der receiver E, and with certain safety cevices. The air valve operates in the casing R and consists of the two pistons 0 carried by valve stem 49 and controlling pipes 50, 51 leading to the powder receivers E of the respective hoists, pipe 52 connecting with the atmosphere, and blower suction pipe I, so that the blower suction pipe may be connected with the atmosphere or to either powder receiver. These piston valves 0 are preferably hollow and spring pressed as shown, so as to cushion the movement of the valves in opposite directions and return the valves to normal. position, and the valves are moved against the spring pressure by pistons 53 on valve stem 49 actuated by fluid pressure transmitted from either hoist through pipes 54 to move the valves 0 in opposite directions according to the powder hoist which is to be operated.

The pipes 54 of the respective hoists connect with chambers 55 receiving pressure air through pipes 56 controlled by valves 2), on the powder receivers E, these pipes 56 connecting with pipes 46, previously described, through valves 1'. The valves 39, q are spring pressed to close the pipe 56 and vent the valves and pipes as valve 79 is shown in Fig. 13. The valve p is actuated by handle 57 against the spring pressure to open pipe 56 through the valve, and valve Q is similarly moved to open pipe 56 by a trip 58 on door 59 of powder receiver E. The valves m, n and 1' are the same in construction and operation as valve q. The valve 7" is spring pressed to its normal position connecting the pipes 46, 56, and is moved against the spring pressure to close pipe 46 and open pipe 56 to the atmosphere by trip 8 extending into the tube B and actuated by the pusher P when stopped at the top of the powder tube B, the construction of the upper end of tubes B for stopping the pusher and of trips 8 being the same as shown in Fig. 10 in connection with tube A. The valve 1) is locked open when moved by handle 57 to open pipe 56 and admit pressure air to pipe 54, by a catch t entering locking notch 4 in the valve, and this catch is controlled by a plunger 5 spring pressed to release the catch and moved against the spring pressure by fluid pressure in cha1nber when pipe 56 is opened. The air valve casing R is provided with vents 59 through which the powder receivers E and pipes 50, 51 vent when the valves 0 are moved to disconnect them from the blower suction.

The operation of the apparatus will be understood from a brief description, in connection with the drawings. Referring first to the shell hoist, and assuming that the parts are all in their normal position, as shown in the drawings (except Fig. 6),

- with a shell loaded on to pusher O and the door 20 closed, the pusher and shell there on are despatched by raising air valve 64 by handle 18 so as to connect pressure pipe H with passage 15, and close its connection with exhaust pipe M, at the same time closing vent 16. The pressure air now enters the bottom of the sending terminal'of tube A below pusher 0 through pipe 12 and, as the pusher and shell rise, valve 11 is raised to open port 10, and the air admission increased for rapid transmission of the pusher and shell. As the pusher passes above door 20, it strikes trip 41 and moves latch it into position to lock release lever 24 so that door 20 cannot be opened. On reaching the receiving terminal the pusher O is stopped by catches 32 springing out into the grooves at the upper end of the tube and engaging stop 31, and the shell passes onward through the doors 30 and is delivered in horizontal position on the table 33, for transfer to the gun, the pusher 0 having pressed trip 34 outward, so as to release the door latches 37 and permit them to be opened by the shell. The air valve a is locked in its raised position, so as to assure the admission of pressure air until the shell is delivered, by stop pin or catch 7) entering notch 2 in valve stem 17, when the stem is raised to open-the valve. When the pusher passes the port of-pipe at the upper end of tube A, pressure air passes from the tube A behind the pusher down through pipe 60 to the inner side of piston e and forces the piston back against the piston spring so as to withdraw catch 6 from notch 2 releasing the valve 64 and permitting it to fall to normal position, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, closing the connection between pressure pipe H and passage 15 and opening connection between pipe N and vent 16. Pusher 0 now falls through the tube A, the air below it passing freely out through pipe N and vent 16, until the pusher passes pipe N and enters the sending terminal, when the air in the sending terminal is compressed, valves 11 and 14 being closed, so that the air canpass out only slowly through pipe 12 now open to the atmosphere through pipe H, valve a and exhaust pipe M, the pusher finally stopping above the bottom of the sending terminal with cushioningair below it. As the de scending pusher O enters the sending ter minal, it rocks trip 41, so as to move latch in to unlock release lever 24 and permit the latter to be actuated by hand to raise catch 22 from pin 23 to open the door for loading another shell, the loading operation consisting in opening door 20 down to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 on a level with table 25, sliding another shell, point foremost, onto pusher O, and closing thedoor. When lever 24 is operated to release catch 22- for opening the door, the

valve 14 is drawn upward by link i to the position shown in Fig. 6, permitting air to escapethrough vent 13, and as the shell is loaded onto pusher O, the weight of the shell forces the pusher downward to the bottom of the sending terminal, cushioning on the air in the sending terminal as the pusher passes vent 13, and moving valve 14 down to close vent 13 by the pusher striking the pin on valve 14 as the pusher and shell reach their lowest position. The vent 13 is thus closed by valve 14, and the valves closed during despatch and the return of the pusher, and is opened again on the release of the door by lever 24 for opening the door for shell loading. Another shell may thus be loaded for despatch while the shell previously despatched is on table 33 so that the loading may proceed immediately on the return of the pusher, while the shell in the receiving terminal may be removed at the convenience of the gunner. Despatch of another shell, however, is prevented until the shell has been removed from table 33, so that the despatch of the ing pins 6,0 and lever cl are then brought into the position shown in Fig. 4, in which pin 0 is withdrawn from notch 3. When the shell lands on depressed table 33, however, the lever 39 is rocked so as to move valve 9 upward from the position shown in Fig. 10 to the position in which pipes 63, 61 are connected, and pressure air from pipe- H then passes through pipes 63, 61 and 60 to the inner side of piston e, and forces this piston outward again against the spring pressure, thus rocking lever (Z and throwing locking pin or catch 0 inward, or to the right in Fig. 4, so as to enter notch 3 in valve stem 17 and hold the valve stem and valve (1 against being raised for despatch until the table 33 is raised by its spring to normal position on the removal of the shell from table 33, which raising of the table returns valve to the position shown in Fig. 10, cutting off the pressure air from pipes 61, 60, and venting these pipes and the cylinder'of piston 6 so that the spring pressure moves piston e inward to withdraw catch 0 from notch 3 to permit despatch movement of the valve (1. The check valve 6 in pipe 60 above cock f prevents the passage of pressure air to tube A from pipe 61 during the above operation.

Referring now to the powder hoist, and assuming that all the parts are in the position shown in the drawings, powder loaded into the sending terminal of the hoist to be operated, door 43 closed for despatch, and door 59 of the receiver E closed for receiving the powder, the handle 57 is rocked to press valve p inward from the position shown in Fig. 13 to the position corresponding to that of valve 9 in this figure, thus opening connection of pipe 56 through the valve and admitting pressure air from pressure pipe H through pipes 63, 45, 46 and 56 to chamber 55 and through pipe 54 to the inner side of piston 53 on air valve 0. The valve 0 is then moved by this piston 53 from the position shown in Fig.

12, in which the blower suction pipe I is duced in the receiver E and tube B by the blower G until the powder is landed in the receiver, as shown at the left in Fig. 2, the

pusher P being stopped at the top of the tube B by its catches coacting with the stop at the top of the tube, as fully shown and "described in connection with the shell hoist.

During this despatch operation of the powder hoist, the valve 9 is locked in position to open pipe 56 through the valve, as above described, by catcht forced into notch 4 by the pressure air in chamber 55 behind spring pressed piston 5, although handle 57 be released. When the pusher reaches the top of the tube B, however, it presses trip 8 outward and thus moves valve 1' downward to close the connection between pipes 46, 56, thus cutting oif the pressure air from chamber 55, and piston 5 is then pressed outward by its spring so as to withdraw catch t from notch 4 and release valve ,2), which valve is then returned by its spring 'to the position shown in Fig. 13, closing pipe 56. The pressure air is then permanently cut off from piston 53, and pipes 54, 56 vented through valve 39, relieving the pressure on piston 53 and the spring pressed valves 0 are then returned to normal position, shown in Fig. 12, disconnecting suction pipe I from the powder .receiver and again connecting it to the atmosphere. Pusher P then falls back through the tube B to loading position in the sending terminal, the air escaping through vent 47, and the pusher is cushioned at the bottom of the sending terminal by the closing of vent 47', as shown in Fig. 7, the air below the pusher then passing out slowly through the small relief valve 48. Door 43 is locked closed during the despatch operation and return of the pusher by latch 70 holding handle catch 44 against release, but pusher P, on reaching the bottom of the sending terminal, forces trip u outward thus moving valve m to open pipe 45 through the valve, thus permitting pressure air from pipe H and pipe 63, to pass through pipe 45 to move piston Z against its spring pressure to withdraw latch 70 and release the handle catch 44 to permit the opening of door 43. Despatch of powder is prevented while the door 43 is open, as valve n, similar to valve 9, is then pressed outward by its spring so as to close connection between pipes 45 and 46, so that pressure air will not pass to pipe 56. WVhen the door is fully closed, however, valve 12. is moved into position to connect pipes 45, 46, for operation of the powder hoist, as above described, on the movementof handle 57 in the turret.

Despatch of powder in either hoist tube B may be made simultaneously with despatch of shell .in either shell tube A, the pressure pipe H of blower G being c011- nected to the shell tube A to be operated, and its suction pipe I to the powder tube B, or either of the shell hoists of powder hoists may be operated alone, the pressure pipe H of blower .G discharging to atmosphere through exhaust pipe M when a powder hoist is operated alone, and the suction pipe I of blower G being connected to the atmosphere through pipe 52, when a shell hoist is used alone.

Interlocking devices are preferably used for preventing the operation of the air valve of one shell hoist for despatch, while a shell is being raised in the other hoist. The interlocking device shown for this purpose is the bar 40 and cam notches in valve stems 17, asabove described. The despatch operation of the two powder hoists simultaneously is prevented by the common movement of'valves 0, so that suction pipe I can be connected with only one of the pipes 50, 51 and receivers E at a time.

The shell hoists shown may be used for lowering shells, and powder, also, may be lowered through these shell hoists, if desired. In lowering a shell, the air valve (6 is raised ,by handle 18 so as to admit pressure air behind the pusher for sending it to the top of the tube, the valve not being opened fully, but only sufliciently to secure the pressure required, which may be determined by the position of upper stop 19 for handle 18, catch 5 engaging notch l on stem 17 .to lock .valve aopen when it is thus raised. Valvef is turned to close pipe 60 above it, and connect pipes 62 and 60 below valve 7, thus preventing pressure air escaping from tube A when the pusher passes above the tube port of pipe 60. Pusher 0 having been sent up .to the top of tube and stopped against stop 31, the trip 34 has been pressed outward by the pusher so as to release arm 35 on the table and door catches 37. The

doors 30 are then opened, and table 33 with a shell thereon is tipped upward by handle 64 and the shell slid off the table through the doors and on topusher O. This movement of table 33 moves valve 9 downward so as to connect pipes .63, 62 and pressure air is thus admitted to pipe 60, below valve 7, so as to press piston e outward and withdraw catch 7) from notch 1, so as to permit valve stem 17 and Valve (0 to fall and cut off the pressure air from tube A, the return of table 33 to normal position, after the shell is loaded onto the pusher, of course returning the valve 9 to cut ofi this pressure air and vent pipe 62. Valve 0; does not fall to its normal position, in which the vents 16 are fully open, but only to a point determined by the position of the lower stop 19, which stops the handle and valve in position to open vents 16 only sufficiently to allow the air below the pusher and shell to pass out at such a rate as to permit the descent of the pusher and shell at the proper speed. Nhen the descending pusher and shell pass pipe N they are cushioned within the sending terminal in the same manner as dein despatching, the air valve of the other hoist being looked as long as the returning of shells in one hoist is continued and the air valve returned to normal position for despatching.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of devices shown. and that the safety devices illustrated and described are not essential to the invention considered broadly, and may be changed as desired, and

many other modifications made in the apparatus shown while retaining the invention as defined by the claims.

In conclusion I desire particularly to direct attention to the fact that since the shell tube is of smaller cross-sectional area than the powder tube and is moreover connected to the pressure side of the pump while the powder tube is connected to the suction side thereof, the effective pneumatic pressure which transmits shells through the shell tube is materially in excess of that which transmits the powder through the powder tube. This connection of transmission tubes of different cross-sectional areas or sizes to a common blower or pump for the purpose indicated, is believed to be broadly newin the art.

What I claim is y 1. In pneumatic ammunition hoists, the combination with a turret gun, of separate powder and shell tubes arranged to deliver powder and shell to relatively adjacent points and in position for loading the gun, and means-for establishing a diiferent operating pressure in one of said tubes which conveys powder, from that in another of said tubes which conveys shells. Y

2. In pneumatic ammunition hoists, the combination with a turret gun, of separate powder and shell tubes, separate adjacent receivers for the powder and shell in position for loading the gun, and means, common to both of said tubes for pneumatically propelling powder through one of said tubes by a pressure different from that at which shells are propelled through the other of said tubes.

3. In pneumatic ammunition hoists, separate powder and shell tubes delivering to'the same station, in combination with means for operating the shell tube by supplying pressure air behind the load and operating the 5 powder tube by suction.

' 4. In pneumatic ammunition hoists, separate powder and shell tubes delivering to the same station, in combination with a single air current creating means, and means for connecting either tube with said current creating means.

5. In pneumatic ammunition hoists, sepa rate powder and shell tubes, in combination with a single air current creating means for the two tubes, and means for separately connecting said current creating means with either tube for sending powder or shell or with both tubes for sending powder and shell simultaneously.

6. In pneumatic ammunition hoists, separate powder and shell tubes of different cross-sectional areas, the shell tube being the smaller, in combination with a blower or pump, and means for connecting the pres sure side of the blower with the shell tube for sending shells by pressure air and connecting the suction side of the blower with the powder tube for sending powder by suction.

7 In pneumatic ammunition hoists, separate powder and shell tubes, in combination with a blower or pump, and means for connecting the pressure and suction sides of the blower with the shell tube and powder tube for sending simultaneously in the same gen eral direction shells by pressure air and powder by suction.

'8. In pneumatic ammunition hoists, the combination of a shell tube, a plurality of powder tubes, a blower or pump, and means for connecting the pressure side of the blower with the shelltubefor sending shells by pressure air andconnecting the suction side of the blower with either of the powder blower with the shell tube and powder tube for sending simultaneously shells by pressure air and powder by suction, and means for automatically closing the connection of the blower to either of the tubes at the end of the despatching operation while continuing the blower connection with the other tube.

11. In pneumatic ammunition hoists, separate powder and shell tubes, in combination with a blower or pump, connections between the pressure side of the blower and the shell tube and between the suction side of the blower and the powder tube, including air valves for connecting the blower to either of the tubes, locking devices for locking the air valve of each tube open during despatch, and means controlled by the position of the load in each tube for closing the air valve of each tube at the end of the despatching operation independently of the air valve of the other tube.

12. In pneumatic ammunition hoists, separate powder and shell tubes, in combination with a blower or pump, connections between the pressure side of the blower and the shell tube and between the suction side of the blower and the powder tube, including air valves for connecting the blower to either of the tubes, locking devices for looking the air valve of each tube open during despatch, a load driving pusher reciprocating in each tube, and means controlled by its pusher for automatically closing the air valve of either tube independently of the other tube.

13. The combination with a pneumatic conveyer tube and a load driving pusher, of means for closing the delivery end of the tube, a locking device for locking said means closed, and a trip actuated by the pusher to release said locking device.

14. The combination with a pneumatic conveyer tube and a load driving pusher, of means at the delivery end of the tube for stopping the pusher while allowing the load to move onward, a door closing the delivery end of the tube, a catch holding said door closed, and a trip operated by the pusher to release the catch for opening the door.

15. The combination with a pneumatic conveyer tube, of a pusher moving in the tube, means for stopping the pusher at the delivery end of the tube, means for loading the pusher for return through the tube, and a locking device for holding said loading means against operation to introduce a load into the tube, said locking device being released by the pusher when in proper position for receiving a load.

16. In pneumatic ammunition hoists, the combination with a hoist tube, of a pusher moving in the tube, a shell table movable for transferring a shell to the delivery end of the tube for return through the tube, a locking device preventing the operation of said table to deliver a shell to the tube, and a trip operated by the pusher when in position for receiving the shell to permit the shell table to be operated.

17. In pneumatic ammunition hoists, the combination with a hoist tube, of a pusher, a shell table movable for transferring a shell to the delivery end of the tube for return through the tube, a locking device preventing the operation of said table to deliver a shell to the tube, a door closing the delivery end of the tube, a catch holding said door closed, and a trip operated by the pusher when in position for receiving a load to pen unit the table to be operated and release the catch for opening the door.

18. The combination with a pneumatic conveyer tube, of a pusher moving in the tube, an air valve operated to send the pusher to the delivery end of the tube for return of a load through the tube, a locking device holding said valve open until the load is received by the pusher, and means for tripping said locking device by the loading of the pusher to shift said air valve for the return of the load.

19. The combination with a pneumatic conveyer tube, its sending terminal, and a door closing the sending terminal, of a latch holding said door closed, a member for releasing said latch, a locking device for locking said member to prevent the opening of the door, a pusher reciprocating in the tube, and means controlled by the pusher for operating said locking device to lock and unlock said member as the pusher leaves and returns to the sending terminal.

20. The combination with a pneumatic conveyer tube, of a load driving pusher reciprocating in the tube, a vent in the sending terminal closed during the return of the pusher, means for opening the sending terminal for loading, and a valve operated by the opening of the door to open said vent and closed by the pusher in its lowest position in the sending terminal.

21. The combination with a pneumatic conveyer tube, of a load driving pusher reciprocating in the tube, means for creating a suction on the delivery side of the pusher for driving a load, and means for separating the pusher from the load on the completion of its load driving movement and returning it through the tube to the sending station.

22. The combination with a pneumatic conveyer tube, of a load driving pusher reciprocating in the tube, means for creating a suction on the delivery side of the pusher for driving a load, means for stopping the pusher in the tube on the completion of its load driving movement while permitting the load to pass onward for delivery, and means for controlling the pressure in the tube to secure the return of the stopped pusher.

23. The combination with a pneumatic conveyer tube, of a load driving pusher reciprocating in the tube, means for-creating suction on the delivery side of the pusher for driving a load, means for'stoppingthe pusher in the tube on the completion of its load driving movement while permitting the load to pass onward for delivery,Eand means controlled by the pusher for varying the pressure on the pusher for the return load driving pusher reciprocating in the tube, of an air valve mechanism for connecting the suction of the blower with the tube for driving a load, means for separating the pusher from the load on the completion of its load driving movement, and

means for automatically moving the air valve mechanism to disconnect the tube from the blower for returning the pusher.

26. In pneumatic transmission apparatus, two transmission tubes of difierent cross-sectional areas, in combination with a blower or pump, and means for connecting the pressure side of said pump to the smaller of said tubes and wthe suction side of said pump to the larger of said tubes, whereby to cause said tubes to jointly coact with said blower or pump to transmit articles through the smaller tube by an effective pneumatic pressure exceeding that by which articles are transmitted through the larger of said tubes.

27'. In pneumatic transmission apparatus, two transmissiontubes of different crosssectional areas, in combination with a blower or pump and means for connecting the pressure side of said pump to one of said tubes and the suction side of said pump to the other of said tubes, whereby to cause said tubes to jointly co-act with said blower or pump to transmit articles through one of them by an effective pneumatic pressure eX- ceeding that by which articles are transmitted through the other of said tubes.

28. In pneumatic ammunition hoists, separate powder and shell tubes, in combination with a blower or pump, and means for connecting the pressure side of the blower with one oi said tubes for sending materlal therethrough by pressure air and connecting the suction side of the blower with the other of said tubes for sending material through said other tube by suction in. the same general direction as that taken by the material transmitted by pressure air.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two sub' scribmg wltnesses.

WILLIAM H. KNOWLTON.

Witnesses: I

E. A. LAWSON, F. P. IRISH. v

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. .Wasnington,D.G. I 

